The Ten-Minute Interview with…Cary Ann Bailey, RN, RCIS, CEN, TNS

My name is Cary Bailey and I am starting my ninth year as a registered nurse in the cardiac catheterization lab at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois. I studied for and passed the registered cardiovascular invasive specialist (RCIS) exam two years ago. I am a team leader and play a big role in staff education. I have two super kids and a supportive husband. Why did you choose to work in the invasive cardiology field? Before working in the cardiac catheterization lab, I worked as a trauma nurse and certified emergency room nurse, but my interest has always been cardiac patients. The cardiac catheterization lab was a fast-growing area in our hospital and offered me a new challenge. Can you describe your role in the cardiovascular lab? I am a charge nurse for my department, and teach advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and basic life support (BLS) to our staff. We have three labs that are very busy. I am in charge of keeping the rooms turned over so that the patient flow is smooth. What is the biggest challenge you see regarding your educational role? Getting my fellow staff members their lunches and breaks like they deserve. There is such a demand for our lab time that we are always pushed to give up our breaks. Each person in our department is a valuable asset, so I try hard to be sure their needs are taken care of. What motivates you to continue your involvement with the cath lab? Our patients are my motivation. It is always a wonderful feeling bringing a sick acute myocardial infarction (MI) patient in and then sending them out post-stent, feeling better. Can you describe an unusual case you have experienced? Our hospital has a STAT heart program that serves eight rural hospitals, and a ST-elevation MI (STEMI) program that serves the patients arriving at our hospital emergency room. The first STAT heart from Pinckneyville, IL (my hometown) was my own grandmother. Watching the helicopter land and realizing that one of the strongest people I know was in it made my stomach upset. She presented with a 99% left anterior descending artery (LAD) lesion, with TIMI-2 flow. I watched my co-workers quickly care for her, and was humbled by the miracle we perform every day. She has fully recovered and is her independent self. It was bizarre being in the role of patient family instead of charge nurse. It has really helped me relate to our patient families. When work gets stressful and you experience low moments (as we all do), what do you do to help keep your morale high? I just let my co-workers know I am there and want to help them. I have a few good friends I vent to when I am having a bad day, and they usually understand because they have been there too. Are you involved with the SICP or any other cardiovascular societies? I am a member of the SICP and the Emergency Nurses Association. I am also a faculty instructor for the American Heart Association. Are there websites or texts that you would recommend to other cardiovascular labs? Datascope.com has an e-learning area on their website that takes the mystery out of balloon pump insertion, and helps alleviate the nerves of caring for a patient with a balloon pump. Just click on the “Cardiac Assist” tab and choose the “Educational Resources” option. Americanheart.org has a professional area on their website where you can access their journals and review the latest data. ACLS.net has a code simulator that is also very helpful for those of us in the cardiac care areas. Do you remember participating in your first invasive procedure? I was most impacted by the first interventional procedure done in our area. Interventionalist Dr. S. Le came to our single diagnostic lab (at that time) seven years ago; we had spent months preparing for his arrival. We all studied the interventional procedures, the drugs and devices, and we had all practiced our roles. Dr. Le took about 8 minutes putting in the first cardiac stent in our area, and we were all amazed. We were so proud to have him and still are. If you could send a message back to yourself at the beginning of your cardiovascular career, what advice would you give? It’s a lot to learn, but pay attention and write notes. Keeping a notebook helps to remember the little details that we forget case to case. Even important phone numbers and drug calculations can be kept in your pocket notebook. Where do you hope to be in your career when it is time to retire? I am completing my BSN in May. I am currently looking at advanced practice nursing. I am looking into a nurse practitioner program with a cardiac or acute care focus. Has anyone in particular been helpful to you in your growth as a cardiovascular professional? We have the most amazing six cardiologists at our facility. They know that good care for their patients depends on us, so they teach us and are resources for us when we have questions. They help us grow, and their patients benefit. Where do you think the invasive cardiovascular field is headed in the future? Bioabsorbable stents are being studied now as well as stents with a bioresorbable polymer to limit late stent thrombosis. Stents have come so far in the last ten years; the research and technology continue to provide advances that will take us into the future. Who knows? Ten years from now we may have the perfect stent that has no sub-acute thrombosis, late loss or restenosis. Cary Bailey can be contacted at caryabailey@hotmail.com

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